Apparatus for vulcanizing articles



Feb. 12, 1946. A BLQUNT 2,394,658

APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 5 imamdnn:

mmwmnwa INVENIOR. H. bLOUN T Arrggmsv Feb. 12, 1946. H. BLOUNT 2,394,658

I APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ,ARTICLES Filed Sept. 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H. 5LOUNT BY /l A TTORNE V Patented Feb. 12, 1946 APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ARTICLES Harry Blount, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 20, 1944, Serial No. 554,907

2 Claims.

'This invention relates to apparatus for vulcanizing articles, and more particularly relates to apparatus for vulcanizing a plurality of articles at the same time.

I In the vulcanization of a plurality of identical articles, it is desirable for all of the articles to be subjected to the same pressure. In vulcanizing presses heretofore known of the type which has a single ram for pressing simultaneously a plurality of identical articles, it has been very difficult to subject to the same pressure each of a plurality of articles being vulcanized at the same time. Consequently, it is difficult to produce uniformly vulcanized articles thereby.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for vulcanizing articles.

One press embodying the invention comprises molding means, a ram, means for actuating the ram to move it toward the molding means, means for contacting the molding means at spaced points thereon, and means for mountin the contacting means universally on the ram.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1. is a fragmentary front elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of an element forming a portion of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a vulcanizing press I0 (Fig. 1) of the same general type of vulcanizing presses as that disclosed in application Serial No. 515,750, filed in the Patent Ofilce on December 27, 1943. The press I0 includes an annular block II which serves to retain an annular molding insert (not shown) from which a plurality of plungers I 2-I2 project. The plungers I2-l2 having rounded tops I3-l3 formed thereon are positioned in engagement with a plurality of articles (not shown) to be vulcanized and are positioned in a ring-like fashion with equal spaces therebetween. The plungers I 2-I2 serve to exert pressure upon the articles when the plungers are pressed downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1..

A cylinder I5 (Fig. 1) of a conventional design encloses a piston (not shown) to which is secured a ram I6. A pair of pipes Il-I'I are connected to a valve (not shown), and, when the valve is properly actuated, serve to supply air under pressure to or exhaust air from the ends of the cyclinder I5 to raise or lower the piston and the ram connected thereto, depending, of course, upon the manner in which the valve is actuated.

A disc I8 (Figs. 3 and 4) is threaded on a threaded end 20 of the ram I6. The disc I8 has a pair of lugs 2I-2I projecting upwardly therefrom, which lugs 2I-2I have bores 22-22 formed therethrough and are positioned on the disc I8 at diametrically opposed points on the periphery thereof. An annular ring 25 is pivotally secured to the disc I8 by a pair of pins 26-26, which are secured by keys 21-21 in aligned bores 28-28 formed therein and project into the bores 22-22. Thus, the ring 25 is connected securely but pivotally to the disc I8.

A pair of pins 30-30 (Fig. 4) are secured by keys 3I-3I in aligned bores 32-32 formed in the ring 25. The-bores 32-32 are positioned at diametrically opposed points on the ring 25 and a line extending therebetween is at a right angle with respect to a line extending between the bores 28-28. An annular plate 35 has a pair of lugs 33-33 projecting therefrom at diametrically opposedpoints on the edges thereof. The lugs 33-33 have bores 34-34 formed therethrough into which bores the ends of the pins 35-30 project to mount the annular plate pivotally on the ring 25. Since the ring 25 may be pivoted with respect to the disc I8 and the annular plate 35 may be pivoted with respect to the ring 25 along an axis at right angles to the pivotal axis between the ring 25 and the disc I8, the plate 35 may be moved to any angle with respect to the disc I8, except as limited by striking the disc. l8. The possible extent of movement of the plate 35 with respect to the disc. I8 depends upon the distance between the plate and the disc and may be increased by the use of lugs longer than the lugs 33-33 in place thereof.

The annular plate 35 has formed therein three concave rocker-like recesses 36-36 and also is provided with three elongated slots 31-31 formed therethrough. The slots extend along the axes of the recesses. Three elongated shoes 40-40 (Fig. 2) having convex surfaces 4I-4I, which are complementary to the concave recesses 36-36, are secured loosely in the recesses lar to thelorigitifdinal axes thereof In the operation of the apparatus describedhereinabove, the plungers l2-l2 are positioned in engagement with an equal number of articles to be molded and are placed the positions shown. in Fig. 1 of the drawihg's ma manner 7 identical with that describe'd'in the application The pGSi'tiOlTS of thei plungers I2-l2 are such that each pair thereof mentioned hereinabove.

is directly below one of the shoes 4 0-40.-- I

The valve (not shown) then is actuated'to cause the ram 16 to be forced downwardlm' as ers projecting fromthe molding means in alignment with a plurality of articles enclosed by the molding means for applying pressure to the articles, each of said plungers having a convex end formed thereon, a ram, a plate having concave grooves formed thereon and also being provided with elongated slots extending therethrough along the concave grooves, a plurality of elongated shoes having convex surfacescomplementary to the concave grooves; a: plurality of bolts extending loosely through the elongated slots for securing the shoes in said grooves in floating relationship therewi-th, means for mounting said plate universally on said ram, and means for actuating said to moveceach of the shoes into P engagement-win the convex ends of a pair of thepioneers, whereby each of the plungers applies the sameforce to the article with which it v is engaged.

viewed in Figr 1, to force the shoes 40-40 into 7 enga'gment'with the rounded tops [3-13 o'fthe I plungers I2-I2"to. force the plungers" against t articles to be molded. Since the piste "ma be pivoted to any desired plane, the pressureierted'b y' each ofi' t he shoes 40-40 upon the particular pair'of theplungers lZ-IZ" with it is in engagement will be equal. Also, since each of the sh0es 4 0-40 is freeto rock in the particular reeess s'g r w hich itis secured, t P s e p 'e eof ere of P ge i2-l2 engaged by one'of the shoes will be equal Steamer other vulcanizing mediums then may sesuppfied to heat the annular block and the articles are vulcanized in a'rnannei; similarlto that described in theapplication mentioned hereinabove.-

1 :Sinc the pressure upon each oi the plungers v Iii-l2 is-e ual the pressune exerted upon each bf th ari ei lbei m lded is ni m ri us the articles being vulcanized will be vulcanized equally;

What is claimed is: c I ct u e n D es e n la m l i means for enclosing a plurality of articles spaced iii ting ike fashion'therein, aplurality of plung- 2 a vulcanizing press, an annular molding means for. enclosing a plurality of articles spaced hiring-like fashion therein; a plurality drainager's projecting from. thmdldi'ngimeans in alignment with a plurality of articlesenolosedby the molding means for applying pressure; totheuartioles, each ofsaid-plung'ers having a convexend formed thereon, a ram, a "plate. having concave groovesformed thereon and also being provided with, elongated slots extending therethrough along the. concave grooves a plurality of elong'ated. shoes having convex. surfaces complementary to the concave g-rooves,' a, plurality oi bolts, extending loosely through the elongated slots for securing the shoes. in saidgrooves in fioating relationship therewith, an annular ring, means for securing the plate to the ring for. pivotal movement about a given axisymea'ns; for securing the ring to. the rain for pivotal movement with respect'to the ram about an axis perpendic ul'ar to said given axis, and means foractuating said ram to move, each or the shoes into engagemerit withtheconvex. ends of pairoi the plunger's,whreby each of theiplungers applies the same force to the article with which it isenald. v

0 I HABR' PQU I-' 

